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Patented Apr. 25, I899.

J. HOLLOWAY.

CENTRIFUGAL MERRY Jill-ROUND.

(Application flied Dec. 14, 1898.)

(No Model.)

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Units TATES ATENT FFIQE.

JAMES C. HOLLOIVAY, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF THREE-FOURTHS 'lO CHARLES S. LAUMEISTER, OF SAME PLACE.

CENTRIFUGAL MERRY-GO-ROUND.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 623,667, dated April 25, 1899. Application filed December 14, 1898. Serial N0- 699.l94. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES C. HoLLowAY, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented an Improvement in Centrifugal IVIerry-Go-Rounds; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to an apparatus for amusement purposes of the class generally designated as merry-go-rounds.

It consists in the parts and the constructions and combinations of described and claimed.

Figure 1 is a vertical section showing the arrangement of my apparatus. Fig. 2 is a partial plan view.

A is a frame or structure of any suitable size and shape, sufficiently well braced, and having at the bottom a centrally-placed step B. At the top is a similar step B, having a central opening through which a shaft 0 passes. The lower end of the shaft is supported and turnable in the step B. Upon the shaft, above the step B, is a framework D, having fixed centrally to it a box Biwhich corresponds in position with the step B and has a central opening through which the shaft 0 passes upward. Around the central openings of the step and boX B B are made grooves or channels adapted to receive the balls E,which form a bearing, and in conjunction with the step it supports the shaft C and the structure carried thereby, and thus gives an easilyturnable support for the same. It will be manifest that the lower step B may in like manner he provided with ball-bearings, if found desirable.

The framework D is of anysufficient diameter to extend beyond the main frame A, and

its outer periphery or the ends of its radial arms are supported by stout guys F, which may be either rods or ropes passing through a cap-plate G at the top of the shaft 0 and having upon the upper ends nuts fitting corresponding screw-threaded terminations, so that they may be taken up to produce any desired tension.

To the outer ends of the arms D or the periphery of the circular ring which may be secured to said arms are journaled the suspendparts hereinafter in g-rods I, which turn freely about their supports 11 and which when at a state of rest will normally hang vertically from the supporting-points. To the opposite outer ends of these bars are hinged or jointed the yokes J, and these support the cars K, which may be made of any suitable or desired size and furnished with seats or otherwise adapted to carry passengers.

In order to more completely support the weight which may be brought upon the outer periphery ofthe frame D, I have shown a circular track or tracks L, bolted to the frame A at asufficient distance from the center, and upon these tracks the rollers M travel. The rollers are journaled upon the frame D and travel upon the tracks when the apparatus is in motion, or, if preferred, the rollers maybe journaled upon the frame A and the tracks fixed to the frame D.

Then the apparatus is operated, it is done by power applied to rotate the central shaft and the apparatus carriedtthereby. In the present case I have shown a pulley 0, adapted to receive the belt, chain, or other driver from an engine or other source of power, or the power may be applied through gearing or other well-known or suitable means. When the shaft is thus revolved, the framework and the suspended cars K are alsorevolved, and asthe speed increases the centrifugal force gradually throws the cars outwardly, with their suspending arms or rods I, until the cars may be raised to an increased height above the ground and at the same time thrown out to a corresponding distance beyond the circle in which they normally hang, thus increasing the distance of their travel and the exhilarating effect produced thereby. In order to prevent this centrifugal movement being so communicated to the cars as to swing them outward to an undue extent, I have shown connections P between the lower part of the car and the framework D, from which they are suspended. These connections may be in the form of ropes, which are connected with the lower part of the car and with some point upon the revoluble framework D,so that when the cars have been thrown outward as far as is desirable the ropes will be drawn taut and will thus retain the bottom of the cars in proper relation and prevent their swinging outward too far. The same result may be produced by means of rigid bars connecting with the car and the framework in a manner similar to the construction of a parallel ruler.

In order to limit and regulate the rise of the suspending-arms I by the centrifugal action, various devices may be employed. I have here shown a connection formed of a wire rope or chain R, the links of which pass between lugs S, fixed to the suspending-bars I, and by means of pins passing through the lugs and the links the latter are connected with the bars. Vhen the machine is not in operation, the bars I will swing vertically and the chain will hang in slackened festoons between the adjacent bars. lVhen the machine is set in operation and the centrifugal force throws the arm outwardly, the increased distance around the circle will finally take up the slack in the chain, so that it forms a com paratively rigid connection between each of the arms I, and when the latter have been extended to the fullest desirable distance the chain will be taut and will act as a stop to prevent their flying outward any farther.

In order to produce a rising-and-falling movement of the cars as they revolve, I employ a mechanism intermediate between the motor and the apparatus which will alternately increase and decrease the speed of rotation an d vary the centrif u galaction u pon the cars. Various devices may be employed for this purpose, one of which is illustrated by two oppositely-tapered cone-pulleys a, with a belt I) passing around them. A shifting lever c is moved by a cam (I, driven by or from the engine-shaft, so that at periodical intervals the belt I) will be shifted along the pulleys and the speed correspondingly altered. A belt 6 from a pulley upon the shaft of one of the conepulleys transmits motion to the governor f, and as the speed of the governor is thus altered the speed of the motor and the apparatus is altered. The same result may be accomplished by other equivalent means within the province of the mechanic.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

arms and adapted to swing outward and up-- ward by centrifugal action when the apparatus is in motion and check-ropes or stays connecting respectively with the cars and with the framework at points interior to the fulcrum-points of the arms, by which the relative position of the cars is regulated and maintained.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, a main framework, a centrally-journaled shaft with means for rotating the same, a framework fixed to and revoluble with the shaft with annular bearers and supportingwheels and adjustable guys extending from the top of the shaft to the periphery of the framework, hangers pivoted to the periphery of the framework, cars pivotally suspended from the lower ends of said hangers so that the cars may be thrown outward and upward by the centrifugal action, guides by which the relative position of the cars is maintained when thrown outward, and connected with the lower portions of the cars and with the frameworks at points interior to the fulcrumpoints of the suspended arms, by which the height to which the arms may swing is regulated substantially as described.

3. A horizontally rotatable frame, ears freely suspended from the periphery thereof, flexible connections extending from the cars to a point interior to the periphery of the frame, a driving-motor and a variable-speed mechanism interposed between the motor and apparatus and driven by the former to alternately increase and decrease the speed of rotation and thereby vary the centrifugal action upon the cars.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JAMES C. HOLLOWAY.

Vitnesses:

S. H. NOURSE, JESSIE G. BRoDIE. 

